Clutch mechanism for power-presses



2 Sheets 1.

0. E. POLLARD.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR POWER PRBSSES.

Patented June' 21, 1892.

WWW A (No Model.) zsneet-sheet 2.

0'. E. POLLARD.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR POWER PRESSES'.

' No. 477,604. Patented June 21', 1.892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. POLLARD, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. W. BLISS COMPANY, LIMITED, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR POWER-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,604, dated June 21, 1892. Application filed March 7, 1892. Serial No. 424,065. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- structions of slide and intermediate mech Be it known that I, CHARLES POLLARD, of anism. Middletowii, in the county of Middlesex and C represents the hub of the driving wheel State of Connecticut, have invented a new or pulley, which is arranged loose upon the Improvementin ClutchMechanismtorPowershaft, the shaft provided at its outer end Presses; and I do hereby declare the follow with a collar D to retain the pulley on the ing, when taken in connection with accompashaft, and the wheel or pulley is constructed nying drawings and the letters and figures for the application of power thereto in the of reference marked thereon, to be a full, usual manner. (Not necessary to be illus- 10 clear, and exact description of the same, and trated.)

which said drawings constitute part of this As shown in Fig. 1, a longitudinally-sliding specification, and represent, in sleeve E is arranged on the shaft inside the Figure 1, a sectional side view of the clutch driving-wheel, and the hub of the wheel upon mechanism as applied to a power-press, the its inner side is constructed with aconcentric 15 parts being in the engaging position; Fig. 2, recess F, within which the said sleeve may the same as Fig. 1, showing the parts in the slide forward and backward. Through the disengaged position; Fig. 3, a transverse secshaft is a diametrical mortise G, and through tion cutting on line a: 00 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4:, 5, this mortise is a key H, which in width is 6, and 7, modifications. narrower than the length of the mortise G,

20 This invention relates to an improvement and so that the key maybe allowed alimited in the mechanism by which the power is enextent of movement longitudinally. This key gaged with the drivingshaft of power-presses. projects out through the ends of the mortise In such presses it is desirable that the power G and is secured in the sleeve E, here repremay be disengaged when the slide or gate is sented as by pins orscrews I, so that the key be .25 in the raised position, and also that the macomes substautiallya part of the sleeve E, and chine may have the capacity of automatically so as to move longitudinally with the sleeve. disengaging the power at each revolution, A spring is provided which operates to force and when the gate is in the up position, or at the sleeve rearward or toward the hub of any other predetermined point which maybe the wheel. As here represented, a spring J 30 desirable. is arranged in a central cavity K in the shaft The object of this invention is a simple forward of the mortise G and opening into it, construction of clutch mechanism between so that the spring may bear against the forthe shaft and the driving pulley or wheel, ward edge of the key, and thus impart its whereby such disengagement may be autoforce to the key and sleeve, tending to force 35 niatically produced as well as ready re-enthem rearward, but adapted to yield for the gagement when occasion requires, and the forward movement of the sleeve and key. invention consists in the construction, as Vithin the recess in the hub one or more stahereinafter described, and particularly retionary studs or projectionsLMarearranged, cited in the claims. (see Fig. 3,) which project into the recess,

40 In illustrating the invention only a small so that when the sleeve and the key under portion of the rear of the frame of the press the action of the spring are moved rearward is shown, A representing this rear portion of they W1l1 engage w th the studs L lil, a th press, seen in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 the arrow indicates B represents the shaft which is arranged the direction of revolution of the driving- 5 in the press in the usual manner and conwheel. Hence when the key H is in its rear 5 nected with the slide or gate also in the usual position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, it will be manner. The arrangement of the slide or engaged by the studs L M of the drivingthe-connections between the slide and the wheel, so that revolution of the driving-wheel shaft are immaterial to this invention, the will be imparted to the key H, and the key 53 invention being applieableto various 0011- H, extendingthrough theshaft,cominunieates I00 revolution to the shaft so long as the engagement between the key and the driving-wheelshall be continued; but if the sleeve be withdrawn, as seen in Fig. 2,then the key is taken out of engagement with the studs, and so that the driving-wheel will revolve without connection with the shaft. Consequently when such disengagement is made the revolution of the shaft will cease.

The sleeve E at one point is provided with a cam N, and at a point in the path of the said cam, when the sleeve is engaged with the drive-wheel, is a dog 0, which the cam N must pass in the revolution of the shaft. \Vhen the sleeve is engaged with the wheel, as seen in Fig. 1, and as the sleeve revolves, the cam will strike the dog '0 and, acting in conj unction therewith, the sleeve will be forced for- 5 ward, as seen in Fig. 2, and correspondingly i draw the key forward and so as to withdraw J the key from itsengagement with the studs of I the driving-wheel, and as soon as the cam has 5 passed onto the dog to thus withdraw the 3 sleeve from engagement with the wheel the Z The arrangement of the cam N with relation to l the dog 0 should be such that the arrest in rotation of the shaft will instantly cease.

the revolution of the shaft may occur at the desired position of the gate or slide, and this is usually when the gate or slide is in its up recess 0, and through the shaft a diametrical To permit the re-engagement of the drivor highest position.

ing-wheel with the shaft when it is desired that power shall be communicated to the shaft, the dog 0 is adapted to be withdrawn from the path of or out of engagement with the cam.

As here represented, the dog is constructed as a part of a vertical spindle P, arranged in bearings Q, and so that it may be moved up and down, and it is normally held in the up orcam-en gaging position by means of a spring R around the spindle, one end of the spring resting upon the lower bearing of the spindle and the other end resting against a collar S on the spindle, and from the spindle connection is made in the usual manner to a foot-pedal or other convenient point where the operator may at pleasure draw the dog out of the path of the cam, and so that when the sleeve stands in the arrested position engaged with the dog the press will stand so long as such engagement continues; but whenthe dog is withdrawn then the spring of the sleeve reacts and forces the sleeve into engagement f with the driving-wheel and so that the power will be communicated to the shaft so long as the dog be held in the withdrawn position.

in its disengaged position. To this end the sleeve is constructed with an annular groove T, the forward edge of the groove preferably beveled, as shown, and this groove corresponds in width to the thickness of the edge of the dog, and the position of the groove is such with relation to the dog that when the cam has withdrawn the sleeve by its engagement with the dog the dog is then free under the action of its spring to be driven into the groove T, as seen in Fig. 2, and thus lock the sleeve in its disengaged position, the beveled side of the groove operating with the dog as a cam to draw the sleeve a little farther out of its engagement with the wheel than the cam itself may do and so as to make disengagement positive.

To prevent accidental withdrawal of the dog from engagement with the sleeve, a locking device is provided, which may be applied, when the dog is engaged with the groove of the sleeve, so as to positively prevent the withdrawal of the dog from such engagement. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the lock for the dog is represented as a sliding bolt U, arranged on the upper bearing, in which the dog is supported, and so that normally the bolt, when withdrawn, as in Fig. 3, has noeffect upon the dog; but when the dog is in the up position the bolt may be thrown forward, as represented in broken lines, and so as to stand beneath the dog and thereby prevent its accidental withdrawal.

While preferring the construction and arrangement of the key and studs as described, they may be otherwise arranged, forillus'tration, as represented in Fig. 4, in which a represents the hub of the wheel, and l) the shaft. The wheel is constructed with a concentric mortise is formed, as before, and in the shaft from the rear a spindle d is introduced concentric with the shaft, provided with a spring e, the tendency of which is to force the spindle inward. This spindle extends through the mortise in the shaft, and the spindle carries a key f, which projects through the shaft, preferably on both sides, and within the hub of the wheel, the recess in the hub of the wheel being such as to permit the revolutionof the wheel without engagement with the key; but in the recess and forward of the key one or more shoulders or projections g are formed, with which the key f may engage when it is forced forward, as indicated in broken lines. The tendency of the spring is to force the key into engagement with the shoulders g g, as in the first illustration; but this movement is now forward instead of rearward, as in the first illustration.

To disengage the key, a sleeve h is provided like the sleeve in the first illustration, and this sleeve carries a bar 'i diametrically through the mortise in the shaft and against which the forward end of the spindle may 1 bear, as seen in Fig. 4. The cam on the sleeve It is desirable:topositively lock the sleeve 1 in this case will operate in the opposite direction, so that as the shaft revolves under the engagement of the power the sleeve will at a predetermined time be forced rearward to operate upon the spindle d to take the key illustrated, the dog key for engaging the power with the shaft is represented in Fig. 5. In this case 1 represents the hub of the driving-wheel and 2 the shaft, and in this illustration the hub is constructed upon its rear face with a concentric recess 3, the recess being provided with shoulders, as in the other illustrations. Through the shaft at the rear is the diametrical mortise 4, in which the diametrical key 5 is arranged and is operated by a spring 6, tending to force it forward, so as to engage the driving-wheel. In the shaft forward of the key is a spindle 7, which is adapted to bear against the forward side of the key, and so that by means of the spindle the key may be forced rearward, as indicated in broken lines. Forward of the spindle 7 a radially-moving cam 8 is arranged, provided with a spring 9, the tendency of which is to force the cam outward, and this cam is adapted to engage a dog 10 as the shaft revolves, so that when the dog stands in the path of the projecting end of the cam the cam will be forced inward, as indicated in broken lines, in a well-known manner for power-press clutch mechanism. The cam 8 is constructed with a beveled working surface 11, which is adapted to bear against the forward end of the spindle 7, and so that as the cam 8 is forced inward, as seen in broken lines, the spindle 7 will be forced rearward and correspondingly move the key 5 out of engagement with the driving-wheel.

Instead of making thedog-interlocking device in the form of a bolt, as first illustrated, or making the dog to slide vertically, as first may be otherwise constructed and arranged-as, for illustration, (see Fig. 6,) in which the dog 12 is hung at one side upon a pivot 15, so as to swing in a plane at right angles to the axis of the sleeve 14, and combined with this is a locking-cam 15, constructed with a suitable handle 16, by which it may be turned upon its pivot 17, as indicated in broken lines, so as to leave the dog free to be drawn out of engagement with the sleeve or turned up to lock the dog in its engagement.

Another illustration of the locking device is shown in Fig. 7, in which 18 represents the dog hung upon a pivot 19, so as to swing as in the last illustration. Combined with this is a set-screw 20, which normally stands out of engagement with the dog; but may be turned into engagement with the dog, as indicated in broken lines.

From the foregoing it will. be understood that the invention is not to be understood as limited to any specific construction, the in ventor reserving to himself the right to modify his invention so long as he does not de part from the general forth.

I claim- 1. In a power-press, the driving-wheel arranged loose upon the shaft, the shaft constructed with a diametrical mortise, combined with a key arranged in said mortise and adapted to be moved backward and forward therein, a sleeve on the shaft adapted to engage said key, so as to move it in one direction, a spring arranged the opposite direction, and the driving-wheel constructed with one or more projections, with which the said key is adapted to engage under the action of said spring, but from which the key will be disengaged by the movement of the sleeve, substantially as described. 2. In a power-press, the combination of a driving-wheel loose on the shaft of said press, a sleeve arranged upon said shaft and so as to slide backward and forward thereon, the shaft constructed with a diametrical mortise, a key in said mortise narrower than the length of the mortise and connected to said sleeve, whereby longitudinal movement of the sleeve will be imparted to the key, a spring arranged to force said sleeve and key in one direction, a cam on the sleeve, a stationary dog with which said cam on the sleeve is adapted to engage to move the sleeve in the other direction, and the wheel constructed with one or more projections, with which said key is adapted to engage under the action of the spring, substantially as described.

3. In a power-press, the combination of a wheel loose upon the shaft, a sleeve arranged to slide longitudinally on said shaft, the shaft constructed with a diametrical mortise, a key through said mortise narrower than the length of the mortise and connected to said slide, so as to move therewith, a spring operating to move the key and sleeve in one direction, a cam on the sleeve, a dog in the path of said cam and with which said cam is adapted to engage to move the sleeve in the opposite direction, one or more projections on the hub of the wheel, with which the said key is adapted to engage under the action of said spring, the sleeve constructed with an annular groove, and the dog provided with a spring serving to force said dog into the said groove after the action of the sleeve-cam upon the dog, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. POLLARD,

principles herein set \Vitnesses:

ALTON H. FANCHER, R0131. J. Goon.

to move said key in i 

